Live fish transport life support system

Abstract

This invention discloses a live fish transport life support system, including a fish hold equipped with a controller and a vent valve. The fish hold contains a sensor array, an inlet, an outlet, a circulating sewage pump, a cyclone filter, an oxygen generator, an ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen blowing auxiliary system, an oxygen injection valve, an oxygen supply valve, a breathing valve, a sterilizer, a second Venturi air-water mixer, an oxygen generator, a water temperature regulator, and an oxygen supply water drive valve. Sewage pumped by the circulating sewage pump flows into the cyclone filter from the outlet. Centrifugal force forces heavier particulate solids out of the vessel via the sewage pump and an overboard valve, while lighter water flows into the Venturi air-water mixer. Oxygen from the oxygen generator enters the Venturi air-water mixer through the oxygen supply valve and the oxygen injection valve, mixing with water above the cyclone filter to form oxygenated water. This oxygenated water then flows into the ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen blowing auxiliary system, enters the sterilizer for disinfection, and then enters the water temperature regulator through the oxygen supply water drive valve for mixing. Finally, it mixes with oxygen produced by the second Venturi air-water mixer and the oxygen generator to form oxygenated water, which then enters the fish hold through the inlet. This invention improves the survival rate of ocean-going fish during transport.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to life support systems in the field of live aquaculture and transportation technology, and more particularly to a life support system for transporting live fish. Background Technology

[0002] Compared with the traditional deep-sea aquaculture fishery resource capture and transportation, the traditional transportation method, in order to ensure the freshness of high-end farmed fish protein resources, generally adopts deep-sea refrigeration, helicopter hovering at sea for loading and transportation, and transport vessels to preserve the captured fish in ice water, manually slaughter, package in pieces, and transport under refrigeration.

[0003] The first method, cryogenic helicopter transport, involves small-batch, high-value fish shipments, but the transportation costs are extremely high, making it unsuitable for large-scale fish transport in marine ranches. The second method, transport by workboats, requires sufficient space for fish processing and storage due to the limitations of the transport type. Therefore, these vessels require a larger crew, higher tonnage, and higher investment costs compared to live fish transport vessels. They are also susceptible to navigational constraints due to weather conditions and pollution of the surrounding waters caused by fish processing.

[0004] Ordinary water treatment methods cannot filter out harmful ions such as fish excrement. Fish kept in unclean water will have their quality affected and will be difficult to transport over a long period of time.

[0005] Live fish transport life support systems are primarily used in water-based live fish transport to improve fish survival rates. However, traditional methods have drawbacks: low fish survival rates during long-term transport, making them suitable only for short- to medium-term transport. High mortality rates during long-term transport severely impact efficiency. Live fish transport life support systems are mainly used to safeguard the development of deep-sea aquaculture resources. However, ensuring the freshness of high-grade fish protein resources from aquaculture farms during long-distance, extended transport is crucial to maintaining their market value and fundamentally solving the preservation problems and high investment costs associated with long-distance, extended-duration live fish transport. Furthermore, eliminating the need for ship crews to process, preserve, and freeze fish, saving ship space and refrigerant energy, and ensuring unaffected by weather conditions are all technical challenges that need to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Purpose of the invention: To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a live fish transportation life support system that eliminates the need for ship crews to process, preserve, and freeze fish, saving ship space and energy consumption in refrigerant production. Furthermore, it is unaffected by weather conditions during transportation, fundamentally solving the problem of preserving live fish during long-distance, long-term transportation in deep-sea aquaculture, as well as the problem of excessively high investment costs, and improving the survival rate of ocean-going fish during transportation.

[0007] Technical solution: The live fish transport life support system of the present invention includes a fish tank, which is equipped with a controller and a vent valve; the fish tank contains a sensor group, a water inlet, a water outlet, a circulating sewage pump, a cyclone filter, an oxygen generator, an ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen blowing auxiliary system, an oxygen injection valve, an oxygen supply valve, a breathing valve, a sterilizer, a second Venturi air-water mixer, an oxygen generator, a water temperature regulator, and an oxygen supply water drive valve; the cyclone filter is connected to the Venturi air-water mixer above and directly connected to the sewage pump and the exhaust valve below;

[0008] The fish tank is equipped with a sensor array that detects water temperature, carbon dioxide, ammonia nitrogen, oxygen and pressure data. The controller controls the inlet and outlet, and the vent valve regulates the internal pressure of the fish tank. The sewage pumped by the circulating sewage pump flows into the cyclone filter from the outlet. The centrifugal force removes the heavy particulate solids from the ship through the sewage pump and the outboard valve, while the light water flows into the Venturi air-water mixer.

[0009] Oxygen from the oxygen generator enters the Venturi air-water mixer along with water above the cyclone filter to form oxygenated water. After flowing into the ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen auxiliary system, the water enters the sterilizer for disinfection and then enters the water temperature regulator through the oxygen supply water drive valve for mixing. It then mixes with oxygen produced by the second Venturi air-water mixer and the oxygen generator to form oxygenated water, which enters the fish tank through the inlet.

[0010] The entrance to the fish hold is a carbon dioxide treatment chamber, which ensures that the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water entering the carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment chambers is higher than the dissolved carbon dioxide concentration, releasing the dissolved carbon dioxide into the air while regulating the internal pressure. The middle section is an ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber, which uses ultrasonic cavitation to convert ammonia nitrogen ions into an aqueous solution. The released ammonia nitrogen is then absorbed by the negative pressure created by the Venturi tube at the top of the chamber and discharged to the outside of the ship. After that, it flows out through a buffer transition chamber and enters the sterilizer through the feedwater pump.

[0011] The ultrasonic wave blows out above the ammonia nitrogen auxiliary system and connects to the negative pressure bypass valve.

[0012] The sensor array includes a temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, an ammonia nitrogen sensor, and a pressure sensor. The fish tank uses the sensor array to detect water temperature, carbon dioxide, ammonia nitrogen, oxygen, and pressure data.

[0013] The outlet has multiple waste sedimentation tanks, which facilitate the discharge of sediment from feed and fish excrement.

[0014] It also includes an ammonia nitrogen remover, with a negative pressure bypass valve connected in parallel above the ammonia nitrogen remover.

[0015] It also includes a shut-off valve and a water supply pump. The water flowing out of the ammonia nitrogen auxiliary system enters the sterilizer for disinfection through the shut-off valve and the water supply pump, and then enters the water temperature regulator for mixing through the oxygen supply water drive valve.

[0016] The inlet is a spiral multi-port water-oxygen mixing and diffusion inlet.

[0017] It also includes a sea valve and a ballast pump, with the sea valve having a negative pressure drive valve.

[0018] The bottom of the fish tank is sloped to facilitate the drainage of sediment.

[0019] Working Principle: This invention improves fish survival rates through the following measures: First, real-time monitoring of the fish transport hold and adjustment of the oxygen content of the aquaculture water are achieved through a spiral water-oxygen mixing and diffusion inlet at the bottom of the fish hold. This ensures a uniform distribution of a highly dissolved oxygen-rich gas-water mixture within the hold, thereby increasing the survival rate of the transported fish. Second, for sediment from feed and fish excrement within the fish hold, multiple conical waste sedimentation tanks are installed at the bottom of the hold. A circulating sewage pump draws the sediment from the bottom of the hold, a cyclone separator separates the aquaculture water from the sediment, and a sewage pump discharges the separated impurities overboard. Furthermore, the technology for removing carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen from the aquaculture water is employed. The carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber and the buffer transition chamber are separated by three upper and lower partitions, dividing the carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber into three independent sub-compartments. The first part is the carbon dioxide treatment chamber, which uses a Venturi air-water mixer to mix oxygen generated by a molecular sieve oxygen generator with the circulating aquaculture water, so that the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water entering the carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber is higher than the dissolved carbon dioxide concentration. Using the total pressure law and the partial pressure law, the carbon dioxide dissolved in the aquaculture water is released and released into the air through a breather valve. The second part is the ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber, which uses ultrasonic cavitation and concentration precipitation to release the ammonia nitrogen dissolved in the circulating aquaculture water. The released ammonia nitrogen is absorbed by the negative pressure formed by the Venturi tube at the top of the chamber and discharged overboard. Fourthly, regarding the sterilization technology for the inlet water of fish tanks, an ultraviolet sterilizer with spiral guide vanes is used to ensure that the aquaculture water entering the sterilizer cavity receives as much ultraviolet sterilization dose as possible from the ultraviolet lamp, effectively killing bacteria. An ultrasonic transducer installed on the inlet pipe wall of the sterilizer cavity assists in rupturing the bacterial membrane, while simultaneously generating vibrational mechanical waves in the ballast water to prevent scale buildup on the waterproof quartz sleeve of the ultraviolet lamp tube inside the sterilizer cavity, thus reducing the ultraviolet dose irradiated onto the treated water. A flexible connection is used between the ultrasonic transducer cavity and the ultraviolet sterilizer to prevent ultrasonic vibration from damaging and rupturing the waterproof quartz sleeve of the ultraviolet lamp inside the sterilizer cavity. Fifth, water temperature regulation and control are achieved by comparing the set suitable water temperature for live fish transportation with the temperature of the treated aquaculture water. The three-way valve is then controlled to change the amount of aquaculture water entering the heat exchanger. The aquaculture water that has passed through the heat exchanger is mixed with the aquaculture water that has not passed through the heat exchanger and is discharged from the other outlet of the three-way valve. This is adjusted to meet the aquaculture water temperature required for transporting live fish. Then, oxygen prepared by the molecular sieve oxygen generator is mixed through the Venturi tube to form fresh aquaculture water with sufficient oxygen content, which enters the live fish transportation compartment.The sixth measure involves employing fully automated monitoring technology for ammonia nitrogen, oxygen content, and water temperature throughout the entire live fish transport compartment. Temperature sensors, oxygen sensors, ammonia nitrogen sensors, and pressure sensors are evenly layered along the walls of the live fish transport compartment. Based on the measured water temperature compared to a preset temperature suitable for live fish transport, the opening of the three-way valve and the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the heat exchanger are adjusted to regulate the water temperature in the live fish transport compartment in real time. The oxygen sensor measures the dissolved oxygen content in the water of the live fish transport compartment, adjusting the opening of the oxygen supply valve of the fresh water venting system to regulate the oxygen content in the water. The ammonia nitrogen sensor detects the ammonia nitrogen content in the water, adjusting the oxygen input flow for replacing carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment compartment and the output power of the ultrasonic transducer to better remove carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen. The pressure sensor controls the number of atmospheric vent valves on the top of the compartment to regulate the pressure inside the compartment in a timely manner. These measures ensure the survival rate of the fish.

[0020] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0021] This invention provides a live fish transportation life support system to safeguard the development of deep-sea aquaculture resources. It ensures that high-grade fish protein resources from aquaculture farms maintain their freshness during long-distance, extended transportation, thereby guaranteeing their market economic value.

[0022] This invention fundamentally solves the problem of preserving live fish during long-distance and long-term transportation in deep-sea aquaculture, as well as the problem of excessively high investment costs, and improves the survival rate of ocean-going fish during transportation.

[0023] This invention employs automated preservation technology, eliminating the need for boatmen to process, preserve, and freeze fish, thus saving ship space and energy consumption in refrigerant production, and is unaffected by weather conditions during transportation. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the live fish life support system of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the fish cabin structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sewage discharge process.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic device for removing ammonia nitrogen and carbon dioxide according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the sterilization and heat preservation device of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] like Figure 1 and 2As shown, in this embodiment of the live fish transport life support system, the fish compartment 1 uses sensor groups 4 evenly arranged on the compartment walls to detect water temperature, carbon dioxide, ammonia nitrogen, oxygen, and pressure data. This data is transmitted to the first controller 2 above, and the second controller 3 controls the spiral water-oxygen mixing and diffusion inlet 6 at the bottom of the fish compartment and the outlet 7 with multiple conical waste sedimentation tanks. The pressure inside the fish compartment 1 is regulated by a spherical vent valve 5 above it. The sloping bottom of the water tank in the fish compartment 1 facilitates the discharge of sediment from feed and fish excrement. A circulating sewage pump 9 below the fish compartment 1 carries the sewage flowing out from below the fish compartment into a cyclone filter 8.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the cyclone filter 8 is connected to the Venturi air-water mixer 13 at the top and directly connected to the sewage pump 11 at the bottom via the outboard valve 12. Sewage pumped by the circulating sewage pump 9 flows out from the outlet 7 and enters the cyclone filter 8 through the shut-off valve 10. The heavier solid particles are drawn out of the ship by the sewage pump 11 through the outboard valve 12 by centrifugal force, while the lighter water flows into the Venturi air-water mixer 13 through the upper outlet.

[0031] The cyclone filter 8 separates water from sediment, separating solid impurities from water. It is connected to the Venturi air-water mixer 13 above, and water flows into the Venturi air-water mixer 13 from above. The sewage pump 11 drives the solid impurities to be discharged outside the ship through the outboard valve below.

[0032] like Figure 4As shown, air passes through the molecular sieve oxygen generator 26 to extract oxygen, while other gases are discharged. The oxygen, along with water flowing out from above the cyclone filter 8, enters the Venturi air-water mixer 13 through the oxygen supply valve 25 and the oxygen injection valve 24. This mixes a large amount of oxygen into the water, creating a water body rich in oxygen. The water then flows into the ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen removal auxiliary system 14. The left side connects to the oxygen-rich water body brought in by the oxygen and water extracted by the molecular sieve oxygen generator in the Venturi air-water mixer. Three internal partitions divide the system into three parts: a carbon dioxide treatment chamber, an ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber, and a buffer transition chamber. The inlet is the carbon dioxide treatment chamber, ensuring that the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water entering the carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment chambers is higher than the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water. The carbon dioxide concentration is adjusted, and the total pressure law and partial pressure law are used to release the dissolved carbon dioxide from the water. The released carbon dioxide is released into the air through the spherical breather valve 16 at the top, while the internal pressure is regulated. The middle part is the ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber, which is equipped with a dispersing valve 22 at the top. The outlet is a buffer transition chamber. The Venturi air-water mixer 13 on the outside is connected to the molecular sieve oxygen generator 26. Specifically, ammonia nitrogen ions are converted into an aqueous solution through ultrasonic cavitation. Then, the concentration precipitation method is used to remove the released ammonia nitrogen through the negative pressure formed by the Venturi tube at the top of the chamber and discharge it to the outside with a dispersing valve 23 at the top. After that, it flows out through the buffer transition chamber and enters the ultraviolet sterilizer 29 with spiral guide vanes through the feed water pump.

[0033] pass Figure 5 The sea valve 37 and ballast pump 36 regulate the external air pressure. To prevent accidents and malfunctions, a negative pressure bypass valve 20 is connected in parallel above the Venturi negative pressure pump ammonia nitrogen remover 15 to prevent abnormal hull pressure caused by a malfunction of the Venturi negative pressure pump ammonia nitrogen remover 15, thereby ensuring stable air pressure inside the hull. The sea valve 37 is equipped with a negative pressure drive valve 21.

[0034] like Figure 5As shown, the water flowing from the ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen blowing auxiliary system 14 passes through the shut-off valve 27 and the water supply pump 28 into the ultraviolet sterilizer 29 with spiral guide vanes for sterilization and disinfection. After sterilization, it flows into the three-way oxygen supply water drive valve 30, where the treated water ratio is adjusted before entering the fish tank water temperature regulator 31 for mixing. This structure ensures that the treated water entering the ultraviolet sterilizer chamber receives the ultraviolet sterilization dose from the ultraviolet lamp, effectively killing bacteria. The ultrasonic transducer installed on the sterilization chamber wall assists in rupturing the bacterial membrane, while simultaneously preventing scale buildup on the waterproof quartz sleeve of the ultraviolet lamp tube inside the sterilizer chamber, thus reducing the ultraviolet dose irradiated onto the treated water. Water flowing from the UV sterilizer with spiral guide vanes above the fish tank water temperature regulator 31 enters the three-way oxygen supply water drive valve 30. The three-way oxygen supply water drive valve 30 then adjusts the proportion of treated water entering the heat exchanger, mixing the water that has passed through the heat exchanger with the treated water that has not passed through the heat exchanger and is discharged from the other outlet of the three-way valve, thus adjusting the water temperature to meet the requirements for transporting live fish and achieving energy saving. Next, it mixes with oxygen produced by the second Venturi air-water mixer 34 and the molecular sieve oxygenator 26 to form a water body with sufficient oxygen content. Finally, it enters the fish tank 1 through the spiral water-oxygen mixing and diffusion inlet 6 at the bottom of the fish tank.

[0035] In the live fish transport life support system, the water inlet 6 below the fish tank is a spiral water-oxygen mixing and diffusion inlet, which is connected to a Venturi air-water mixer. After mixing with the oxygen produced by the molecular sieve oxygen generator, the water with sufficient oxygen content enters the fish tank. Its structure is more conducive to the mixing of oxygen and water.

[0036] Temperature, oxygen, ammonia nitrogen, and pressure sensors are evenly distributed on the bulkhead. Based on the measured water temperature compared to a preset temperature suitable for live fish transport, the opening of the three-way valve and the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the heat exchanger are adjusted to regulate the water temperature in the live fish transport compartment in real time. The oxygen sensor measures the dissolved oxygen content in the water of the live fish transport compartment, adjusting the opening of the oxygen supply valve of the fresh hydroclinic aerator to regulate the oxygen content in the water. The ammonia nitrogen sensor detects the ammonia nitrogen content in the water, adjusting the output power of the ultrasonic transducers in the carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment compartments to better remove ammonia nitrogen. The pressure sensor controls the number of atmospheric vent valves on the top of the compartment to regulate the pressure inside the compartment in a timely manner.

Claims

1. A live fish transport life support system, characterized by: The system includes a fish hold (1), which is equipped with a controller and a vent valve (5); the fish hold contains a sensor group (4), a water inlet (6), a water outlet (7), a circulating sewage pump (9), a cyclone filter (8), an ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen blowing auxiliary system (14), an oxygen injection valve (24), an oxygen supply valve (25), a breathing valve (16), a sterilizer (29), a second Venturi air-water mixer (34), an oxygen generator (26), a water temperature regulator (31), and an oxygen supply water drive valve (30); the cyclone filter (8) is connected to the Venturi air-water mixer (13) above and directly connected to the sewage pump (11) below, which is connected to the outboard valve (12); The fish tank (1) is equipped with a sensor group (4) to detect water temperature, carbon dioxide, ammonia nitrogen, oxygen and pressure data. The inlet (6) and outlet (7) are controlled by the controller, and the internal pressure of the fish tank is regulated by the vent valve (5). The sewage pumped by the circulating sewage pump (9) flows into the cyclone filter (8) from the outlet (7). The heavy particulate solids are pumped out of the ship by the sewage pump (11) through the outboard valve (12) by centrifugal force, and the light water flows into the Venturi air-water mixer (13). Oxygen from the oxygen generator (26) enters the Venturi air-water mixer (13) through the oxygen supply valve (25) and the oxygen injection valve (24) and the water above the cyclone filter (8) to form an oxygen-containing water body. After flowing into the ultrasonic ammonia nitrogen auxiliary system (14), it enters the sterilizer (29) for disinfection and then enters the water temperature regulator (31) through the oxygen supply water drive valve (30) for mixing. Then it is mixed with the oxygen prepared by the second Venturi air-water mixer (34) and the oxygen generator (26) to form an oxygen-containing water body. The oxygen-containing water body enters the fish tank (1) through the water inlet (6).

2. The live fish transport life support system of claim 1, wherein: The fish tank entrance is a carbon dioxide treatment chamber, which makes the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water entering the carbon dioxide and ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber higher than the dissolved carbon dioxide concentration, releasing the dissolved carbon dioxide into the air while regulating the internal pressure; the middle part is an ammonia nitrogen treatment chamber, which converts ammonia nitrogen ions into an aqueous solution through ultrasonic cavitation, and then removes the released ammonia nitrogen through the negative pressure formed by the Venturi tube at the top of the chamber, and discharges it to the outside of the ship; then it flows out through the buffer transition chamber and enters the sterilizer (29) through the water pump.

3. The live fish transport life support system of claim 1, wherein: The ultrasonic wave blows out above the ammonia nitrogen auxiliary system and is connected to a negative pressure bypass valve.

4. The live fish transport life support system of claim 1, wherein: The sensor group (4) includes a temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, an ammonia nitrogen sensor, and a pressure sensor.

5. The live fish transport life support system of claim 1, wherein: The outlet (7) is equipped with multiple waste sedimentation tanks.

6. The live fish transport life support system of claim 1, wherein: It also includes an ammonia nitrogen remover (15), above which a negative pressure bypass valve (20) is connected in parallel.

7. The live fish transport life support system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a shut-off valve (27) and a water supply pump (28). The water flowing out of the ammonia nitrogen auxiliary system (14) enters the sterilizer (29) through the shut-off valve (27) and the water supply pump (28) for disinfection, and then enters the water temperature regulator (31) through the oxygen supply water drive valve (30) for mixing.

8. The live fish transport life support system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inlet (6) is a spiral multi-port water-oxygen mixing and diffusion inlet.

9. The live fish transport life support system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a sea valve (37) and a ballast pump (36), the sea valve (37) having a negative pressure driven valve (21).

10. The live fish transport life support system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the water tank in the fish hold (1) is sloped to facilitate the discharge of sediment.

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